Harvey Levin
TMZ got lofty and philosophical early this morning, regarding a photo it dropped major money on, purportedly of then Senator, John F. Kennedy, allegedly on a yacht with naked women, while his wife, Jackie Kennedy was pregnant and suffering a miscarriage.
TMZ, got all solemn and reflective, ran the photo, cited expert analysis verifying its authenticity (LOL) and pontificated what world history would have been like, had the photo been released during Kennedy's days as a senator, hypothesizing it would have thwarted his successful presidential bid.
Harvey Levin and Perez Hilton
Then, a few hours later, TMZ was embarrassed when it was confirmed, the photo in question was from Playboy magazine in the 1960's and did not contain former President John F. Kennedy. Who was it then? Bill Clinton (just kidding).
The photo was pronounced fake, just like TMZ's credibility. Exactly how much did TMZ pay for that Brooklyn Bridge on photo paper.
TMZ has been the brunt of government and public criticism this year, for obtaining and releasing invasive items, such as the list of 10 prescription drugs found in the night stand of deceased actress, Brittany Murphy, the domestic violence police photo of faux singer, Rihanna, numerous private details about Michael Jackson's death and several other disclosures that violated the law and ongoing investigations.
Kennedy Picture -- A Fake
Posted Dec 28th 2009 12:57PM by TMZ Staff - TMZ received an email from someone who said the photo we posted showing a man appearing to be John F. Kennedy on a yacht with naked women was actually a photo from a 1967 Playboy photo shoot.
We have contacted Playboy and a rep says the photo did indeed run in one of its 1967 issues...
The JFK Photo That Could Have Changed History
Posted Dec 28th 2009 2:07AM by TMZ Staff - TMZ has obtained a never-before published photograph which appears to show John F. Kennedy on a boat filled with naked women -- it's a photo that could have altered world events.
We believe the photo was taken in the mid-1950s. It shows two naked women jumping off the boat and two more naked women sunning on the top deck. Just below the top deck -- a man appearing to be John F. Kennedy is lying on a deck, sunning himself.
TMZ had multiple experts examine the photo -- all say there is no evidence the picture was Photoshopped. The original print -- which is creased -- was scanned and examined for evidence of inconsistent lighting, photo composition and other forms of manipulation. The experts all concluded the photo appears authentic.
Professor Jeff Sedlik, a forensic photo expert, says the print appears to be authentic. Sedlik says the photo is printed on paper consistent with what was used in the 1950s. The emulsion on the surface of the print has numerous cracks -- the result of aging and handling.
There are numerous articles and books on President John F. Kennedy which mention a 2-week, Mediterranean boating trip that JFK -- then a Senator -- took in August, 1956, with his brother Ted Kennedy and Senator George Smathers. The trio reportedly entertained a number of women on the yacht. Jackie Kennedy was pregnant at the time and was rushed to the hospital while JFK was on the boat. Doctors performed an emergency C-section, but the infant was stillborn.
Forensic analyst Sedlik superimposed an image of Kennedy taken at the Democratic National Convention in August 1956, just days before Kennedy went on the Mediterranean cruise. Sedlik says the features from the two pics almost precisely sync up. TMZ has also had two Kennedy biographers examine the photo -- they also believe JFK is in the picture...
Had the photo surfaced when John F. Kennedy ran for President in 1960, it could have torpedoed his run, and changed world history...
